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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
BUREAU OF FISHERIES 

HUGH M. SMITH, Commlsslen«r 



MUSSEL RESOURCES IN TRIBUTARIES OF THE 
UPPER MISSOURI RIVER 

By Robert E« Coker, Director 

AND 
John B* SoUTHALL^ Shett Expert 

United States BiotogicAt Station 
F&irport, lo'WA 



APPENDIX IV TO THE REPORT OF THE U. S. COMMISSIONER 
OF FISHERIES FOR 1914 




Bureau of Fisheries Document No, 812 



WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1915 




. -lor^-raph 



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

BUREAU OF nSHERIES 

HUGH M. SMITH, Commissioner 



MUSSEL RESOURCES IN TRIBUTARIES OF THE 
UPPER MISSOURI RIVER 

By Robert E. Coker, Director 

AND 
John B. SOUIHALLt Shell Expert 

United States Biological Station 
Fairport, lo'wa 



APPENDIX IV TO THE REPORT OF THE U. S. COMMISSIONER 
OF FISHERIES FOR 1914 




Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 812 



WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1915 






d-h 



s 



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MUSSEL RESOURCES IN TRIBUTARIES OF THE 
UPPER MISSOURI RIVER 

By Robert E, Coker, Director 

AND 

John B. S0UTHALL» Shell Expert 

United States Biological Station 
Fairfyorf, loiia 



»•• ."vjl 
Appendix IV to the Report of the U. S. Commissioner 
of Fisheries for I9I4 



CO .NTT E NT 8 



Page. 

Field of investiajatiou 5 

James River 6 

Character of the James River drainage area 10 

Natural propagation of mussels in relation to flood stages in the James River. . 12 

Vermilion River 13 

Examination of other streams 14 

Summary 15 

Appendix — Description of shell found in tlie James River at Huron, S. Dak., 

July 27, 1913 17 

3 



MUSSEL RESOURCES IN TRIBUTARIES OF THE UPPER 
MISSOURI RIVER. 



By Robert E. Coker, Director, and John B. Southall, Shell Expert, United Slates 
Biologiail Station, Fairporl, Iowa. 



FIELD OF INVESTIGATION. 

The Missouri Riv^er itseU has been known to be without shell 
resources, although some of its tributaries may compare favorably 
in mussel fauna with streams of other divisions of the Mississippi- 
Missouri Basin. The fact of the general poverty in mussels of the 
Missouri River has led to an almost entire neglect of its more favored 
tributaries until quite recently, wlien shelling operations have been 
undertaken in such streams as the Osage River in Afissouri and the 
James River in South Dakota. 

During the summer of 1912 the Bureau conducted a reconnaissance 
of lakes and streams constituting the headwaters of the Mississippi 
River in Minnesota, " and it was hoped to extend the survey this 
season westward to the headwaters of the Missouri. Such a desire 
was strengthened by the receipt of information that important 
shells were being found in the James Ri^er, and jierliaps in the 
Vermilion River of South Dakota also. Accordingly, in Julv, 1913, 
Mr. J. B. Southall, shell expert of the Fairport station, made an 
examination of several streams, principally the James and the 
Vermilion Rivers. The director was able to visit only the James 
River at Huron, and the Vermihon River at Parker, S. Dak. For 
observational data, therefore, this report is bas(>d principally upon 
the field notes and collections of Mr. Southall. 

It may be recalled that the extreme upper portions of the Missouri 
and the Mississippi Basins, respectively, are not adjacent, but are 
separated by that far-reaching arm of the Hudson Bay drainage 
constituting tlie basin of the Red River of the North. The southern- 
most units ol the Red River system are the Ottertail River in 
Minnesota and Lake Traverse and the Clieyenne River in the eastern 
and southern ])ortions of North Dakota. The party en route for 
the James River found it convenient to make a few observations on 
tlie Red River at Fargo and the Cheyenne River at Lisbon. 

" Wilson, Charles B., and Danglade, Ernest: The mussel fauna of central and northem Minnesota. 
Uureau of Fisheries Document no. 503, 26 p., 1 map. 1914. 
Mussels of central and northern Minnesota. Bureau of Fisheries Kcomomic Circular no. S, O p. 1912. 



6 MUSSELS IN TEIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 

The James River was first examined at Oakes, N. Dak., from 
whence the party proceeded by rail from point to point down to 
the mouth of the river, stopping at Cohunbia, Frankfort, Huron, 
Riverside, Milltown, and Lesterville, vS. Dak. (See map.) 

The Vermihon River was examined at Parker, Davis, Centerville, 
and Vermilion, the hitter point being 7 miles above its mouth. 

The Big Sioux River was visited at Flandreau, Dell Rapids, Sioux 
Falls, Canton, S. Dak., and Hawarden, Iowa. Examination was 
also made of Lake Kampeska, connected with the Big Sioux River. 

The more western and northern tributaries of tlie Missouri generally 
were not included, although side trips were made to the Bad River at 
Philip, S. Dak., the Cheyenne River at Wasta, S. Dak., and Rapid 
Creek, a tributary of the Cheyenne, at Rapid City, S. Dak. 

Some species of mussels were found in every locality visited except 
in the streams west of the Missouri; but the only streams containing 
mussels of economic quality and abundance were the James River, 
between Riverside and Lesterville, and the Vermilion River, near its 
mouth. It may well occasion surprise to find a luxuriant mussel 
fauna narrowly circumscribed within what is otherwise, for mussels, a 
broad and ])arren waste. The rivers of the region under consideration 
do indeed form an integral part of the great Mississippi-Missouri 
system, in which the Unionidse have reached their greatest develop- 
ment; but the James and the Vermilion Rivers are, by water con- 
nection, far away from the nearest prolific mussel streams. Consti- 
tutmg a part of the greatest mussel plantations, metaphorically 
speaking, these particular fields are within the abandoned corner, 
and their productivity arouses a peculiar interest. Unquestionably 
these rivers have been stocked from streams lower down in the basin, 
and it will appear that there are some facts to suggest that the stocking 
is continued from time to time, though occurring somewhat spas- 
modically. 

JAMES RIVER. 

The James (or Dakota) River rises in the west central part of 
Wells County, N. Dak., and, after flowing in a southerly direction 
for a distance of about 450 miles, enters the Missouri a short distance 
southeast of Yankton, S. Dak. The stream itseK is permanent, 
although it is practically devoid of perennial tributaries, and its basin 
is long and narrow. The region through wliich it flows is covered 
generally with the glacial deposits of the Quaternaiy. One may 
scarcely speak of a vaUey. In the upper portions examined the river 
flows through a seemingly level prairie; the stream is sluggish and 
comparatively wide (80 to 100 feet), with a depth of 1 to 2 feet (Oakes, 
N. Dak.). The low banks, composed chiefly of blue clay, are subject 
to overflow, while the bottom is soft and mucky. Neither live mussels 
nor empty shells were found. 



MUSSELS IN TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 




69375°— 15- 



O 85 50 loo 

Map of the James, Vermilion, and Big Sioux Rivers. 



8 MUSSELS IN TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 

About 20 miles below Oakes the river widens to form a slough or 
lake, approximately a mile wide and about 22 miles long, extending 
to within a couple of miles of Columbia, S. Dak. The depth in this 
lake-like portion is 3 to 10 feet. Apparently the lake is well stocked 
with pickerel and bullheads, so that good fishing is afforded in the deeper 
places. At Columbia the river becomes extremely narrow, with a 
width of only 15 feet and a depth of 6 inches to 3 feet, and displays a 
strong current of 3 to 4 miles per hour. The bottom is variously 
sand, gravel, and soft mud, and the water has a reddish or iron-rust 
color. Ijiving mussels were not seen, but many empty shells of 
Anodonta grandis (floater) were found. 

Similar conditions seem to exist for a stretch of about 50 miles, or 
as far as Frankfort, but at the latter place a few scattering beds of 
mussels were observed. The shells were too thin for commercial use 
and comprised the following species: 

Anodonta grandis, floater. 

Symphynota complanata, white heel-splitter. 

Lampsilis ventricosa, pocketbook. 

L. luteola, fat mucket. 

L. gracilis, paper-shell. 

Quadrula undulata, three-ridge. 

Arcidens confragosus, rock pocketbook. 

In the lower course we find the river a generally sluggish stream 
with a width of 50 to 80 feet and a depth of 3 to 10 feet at ordinary 
stages; although there are occasional short reaches of shallow water 
connecting the longer stretches of more lagoon-like character. Here 
a river valley is more noticeable ; the river forms the deepest part of 
a trough representing the broad ancient river bed, about a mile in 
width and some 50 to 75 feet in depth. From Huron to Mitchell 
the river has a fall of 30 feet in 75 miles (Todd and Hall).« 

At Huron the following species of mussels were found, Usted in order 
of apparent abundance: 

Anodonta grandis, floater, 48 per cent. 

Symphynota complanata, white heel-splitter, 30 per cent. 

Lampsilis luteola, fat mucket, 8 per cent. 

Quadrula undulata, three-ridge, 7 per cent. 

Lampsilis ventricosq,, pocketbook, 5 per cent. 

Quadrula coccinea, sometimes called "flat niggerhead," 2 per cent. 

The percentages stated are based upon a count of shells in a pile 
left by a pearl fisher. 

Even the better shells hero are too hght as well as too small for 
effective commercial use, but it was learned that fishing for pearls 
was prosecuted at certain times by itinerant pearlers. 

a Todd, J. E., and Hall, 0. M.: Geology and water resources of part of the lower James River Valley, 
South Dakota. Water Supply and Irrigation Paper no. 90, U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C, 
1904. 



MUSSELS IN TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 9 

A very remarkable shell was found at Huron by Mr. J. B. Southall. 
The shell clearly can not be identified with any described species, 
but as further search failed to produce another example it scarcely 
appears justifiable to regard this unique specimen as representing a 
new species. The accompanying illustrations (fig. 1, 2, and 3, pi. i) 
give an idea of the form and appearance of the shell, which seems to 
combine characters of the three-ridge (Quadrula undulata) and the 
fat mucket (Lampsilis luteola). The question is often asked: Do 
mussels ever hybridize? The present example may suggest an 
affirmative answer, for, in the absence of further information, the 
crossing of two known forms is the only apparent explanation of the 
anomaly presented. Unfortunately, the pecuhar characters were not 
noted until after the shell in question, along wath a number of others, 
had been cleaned and the meats discarded. 

At Riverside commercial shelling was found in progress. Here one 
fisherman, mth an assistant, had taken 20 tons of shells up to the 
date of our visit (July 27, 1913). Approximately 90 per cent of the 
shells taken were the tliree-ridge {Q. und/ulata). Other species 
observed were Q. coccinea (flat niggerhead), Q. postulosa (pimple- 
back), Q. lachrymosa (maple-leaf), L. ventricosa (pocketbook), L. 
Juteola (fat mucket) , L. recta (black sand-shell or long John) , L. alata 
(pink heel-spUtter) , L. gracilis (paper-shell), L. fallaciosa (slough 
sand-shell) , Arcidens confragosus (rock pocketbook) , Tritogonia tuber- 
culata (buck-honi or pistol-grip), and Symphynota complanata (white 
heel-sphtter) . 

The tliree-ridges were of medium size, clear in color, and not heavy, 
having faintly iridescent tips that were too tliin for buttons. The 
other shells generally were too light or too scarce to be of value," but 
a few pimple-backs, maple-leafs, and fat muckets were suitable for 
market. 

This fisherman had found a large number of pearls, many of wliich 
were of some value. An interesting fact was the large percentage of 
"dead" pearls. About two-thirds of the catch were entirely ''dead" 
and of a brown color. The majority of them were perfectly spherical. 
Even with the large percentage of wortliless material, the pearling was 
evidently not unprofitable, and the good pieces altogether were prob- 
ably worth upward of $500. 

About 3 miles below Riverside there was another fisherman who 
had taken out about 15 tons of shells. The mussels were gathered 
with a coke or coal fork, having a piece of 2 by 4 lumber fastened to 
the handle, the length of this piece being according to the depth of 
the river. This fisherman had a novel way of anchoring liis boat. 
At each end of the boat a hole was bored through the bottom large 
enough to insert a piece of l-|-inch pipe, making a water-tight joint. 
These perpendicular pipes, rising to the level of the gunwales of the 



10 MUSSELS IN TKIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 

boat, served as sockets or sleeves through which a long iron rod could 
be shoved into the soft mud bottom of the river. By anchoring in 
this way the boat was kept abreast of the current, while the fisher- 
man used the sides as a fulcrum for the handle of his fork. After 
gathering all the mussels possible within reach he would pull up the 
rods, let the boat drift downstream a suitable distance, or beyond the 
portion of river just worked, and then anchor and resume operations 
as before. 

In places hke that just described, where a carload or more of shells 
can be taken in a season, commercial shelling may be followed profit- 
ably. From Milltown to Lesterville the river is veiy productive. 
Approximately 400 tons of shells have been taken out of the river 
between these two points. 

At Milltown, mussels were gathered by means of the basket-rake 
dragged by a power-boat. The rake was peculiar in being without 
teeth but having a square brail made of J by 1^ inch flat iron, to 
which was fastened a wire basket of 1-inch mesh. With each boat 
was a crew of four men, three to work with the rakes and one to 
operate the engme. One dragged the rake at the rear of the boat, 
while the other two worked at the sides. In this manner a strip of 
the river bottom 6 feet wide was thoroughly scraped. One crew 
said that they had gathered 3 tons of mussels in three hours. 

Of all the shells gathered by the party at various points on the 
James River, or observed at the clammer's camps, no small ones 
were seen. Mr. Kennedy, a shell dealer, informed our party that he 
had prospected the James Eiver from Riverside to its mouth, and 
had not found any small shells. The basket-rake implement em- 
ployed on this river and described above would have taken small 
shells as well as larger ones had they been present. This pov- 
erty of young mussels may be due to the fact that long-continued 
low stages of the river cause the run of fishes that are essential to 
the reproduction of the mussels to occur only at irregular intervals 
(see also p. 12). We were told by the people who live along the 
river that in some years fish appear in large numbers, but that 
usually the fishing was very poor, only an occasional bullhead being 
caught. 

CHARACTER OF THE JAMES RIVER DRAINAGE AREA. 

Particular attention was not given to geological conditions, but 
because of the interest attached to the rather isolated mussel beds in 
this semiarid region, it may be instructive to refer to the character 
of the country through which the river passes, especially as it affects 
the water supply. The data are gleaned largely from the report of 
Todd and Hall previously cited. 

The general surface is covered variously by sand, clay, and gravel 
till and by stream deposits of recent geological times. Tertiary and 



MUSSELS IN TEIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 



11 



Upper Cretaceous formations are wanting, so that the glacial deposits 
overlie immediately the Lower Cretaceous, Niobrara, Benton, and 
Dakota formations. The Dakota formation is of particular interest 
as bemg the principal source of the artesian wells which yield such 
abundant flows of water and have a profound efl"ect upon the agri- 
cultural development of the region (as about Mitchell, Huron, and 
Artesian). Finally beneath the Cretaceous (Triassic and Jurassic 
being wanting) there is encountered the Algonkian granite and Sioux 
quartzite, the latter forming the l^edrock over a large part of the 
valley. 

The James River intersects three low termmal moraines which 
form long loops directed southward. Previous to their formation 
the ice had covered the whole area to a depth of several hundred feet 
and pushed south and west to the vicmity of the Missouri River, 
where it rested for a time and formed the first, or Altamont moraine ; 
then retreated and formed the second, or Gary morame, about 
Mitchell, and fuially the third, or Antelope moraine, which is found 
west of Wolsey. Between these morames many lateral valleys, gen- 
erally dry, lead into the James River. 

While perennial streams are rare, springs are not uncommon along 
the river. Shallow wells may be had, although these are not per- 
manent except when located in the valley or basin, since they depend 
for supply upon the surface waters, which are very limited in amount. 
There are deeper pump-wells in which a tubular or force pump is 
often necessary, or where the water supply is reached after passing 
through an impervious layer. Three distinct geological horizons 
supply such water m this area, particularly in the northern part, 
viz, (1) the sands below the till; (2) either porous strata or crevices, 
probably in the chalk; and (3), of most importance, the sandstone 
below the chalk, which is the first regular water-bearing stratum of 
the Benton-Dakota series. It is from this source that the great 
artesian wells of this district derive their supply. (Todd and Hall.) 

The dramage area of the James River lies m a region of moderate 
rainfall, the average annual precipitation bemg between 20 and 25 
inches, occurrmg prmcipally from May to August. The annual pre- 
cipitation in this valley fluctuates widely. The following data from 
the Weather Bureau, ''Summary of Climatological Data for the 
United States by Sections," may serve as illustration: 



stations. 


Period. 


Annual precipitation. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Mean. 


Aberdeen 


1891-1908 

1898-1908 

1882-1908 

/ 1892 

\ 1895-1908 


15.96 
13.31 
13.56 

1 16. 97 


38.39 
30.76 
28.93 

36 11 


27. ft': 


Redfield 


20. 34 


Huron 


21.04 


Mitchell 


24 05 









12 MUSSELS IN TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 

NATURAL PROPAGATION OF MUSSELS IN RELATION TO FLOOD STAGES 
IN THE JAMES RIVER. 

From the account of the dramage area just given it is evident" 
that the ground waters, although plentiful at great depths, can sup- 
ply but a small flow to the river. While, therefore, the river may at 
all times cover sufficient bottom to support an abundance of mussels, 
it can have a considerable volume only when there is a direct inflow 
of surface waters after periods of rainfall. It is even probable that 
light rains are so completely absorbed by the loose dry soils that the 
river is only slightly afl'ected by them. 

The effect of such conditions upon the stages of the river is of 
particular interest in connection with the observations regarding the 
mussels. The fact that scarcely any small mussels were found led to 
the inference, as previously mentioned, that the opportunity for 
natural propagation of the mussels occurred only at irregular intervals. 

From the data regarding the average river stages given in the fol- 
lowing table,'* it appears that while the James River is occasionally 
subject to high stages it ordinarily maintains a very low level. Thus, 
during the entire year 1911 the monthly average stage did not attain 
3 feet in any month, and exceeded 1 foot in only three months, viz, 
February (1.1 feet), April (2.6 feet), and May (2.2 feet). The con- 
ditions in 1913, up to September, were nearly the same, the spring 
sta.ge being just a little later. On the other hand, during the three 
preceding years (1908-1910) higher averages were made, particularly 
during 1909 and 1910, when monthly averages of 11.7 feet and 10.9 
feet, respectively, are found in March. The highest recorded stage, 
14.6 feet, was made March 15, 1910. 

If the natural propagation of mussels in the river depends upon a 
run of fishes during high stages, it is evident that favorable conditions 
had not occurred since 1910, and consequently we could not expect 
to find small mussels in 1913, except as they might have developed 
in favored spots where fish were left. It is of interest that from 
observations of the mussels it should have been assumed that no 
flood stages of the river had occurred recently, and that the records 
of river stages, subsequently obtained, should have offered confirma- 
tion of this presumption. 

Since most of the species of mussels are in an early stage parasitic 
upon fish and remain in parasitism for a period of time, it follows 
that for a particular bed of mussels to be propagated the fish must 
either come to that bed infected with mussels, or else they must be 
on the bed when mussels are breeding, become infected from that 
bed, and remain or return to drop the mussels in the same vicinity 

1 These data were kindly supplied by Mr. S. W. Glenn, section director in the Clunatological Service of 
the Weather Bureau, Huron, S. Dak. 



MUSSELS IN TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 13 

at the expiration of the period of parasitism; in either case the 
reguhir or irregular occurrence of flood stages is of considerable 
moment. This factor would more particularly affect the distribution 
and propagation of mussels above the point on the river to which 
fish ordinarily have free access. As a matter of fact, the James 
River is so broken up that this point is comparatively low in its 
course. 

There are small milldams at Milltown, Riverside, and Huron. 
These dams are only 3 to 6 feet high, but are not provided with 
fishways and are certainly a barrier to the movement of fish at 
ordinary stages. Even without these, the frequent stretches of riffles 
between the more lagoonlike portions of the river would ordinarily 
prevent the free movement of fish. In any event, the fish could sel- 
dom pass above Milltown, and it has already been noted that the prin- 
cipal mussel beds are between Lesterville below and MiUtown above. 

Average Stages of Water in James River at Huron, S. Dak., from Obser- 
vations BY THE Weather Bureau, Department of Agriculture. 



Year. 


Jan. 


1908 


Feet. 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 

0.1 


1909 


1910 


I'JU 


1912 


1913 



Feb. \ Mar. i Apr. 



Feet. 
6 0.2 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
c\.\ 
.0 



Feet. 

3.1 

11.7 

10.9 

.8 

.6 

.1 



Feet. 
1.9 
4.8 
5.0 
.5 
2.(i 



May. 



Feet. 
2.3 
2.1 
4.3 
.0 
2.2 
2.4 



JuBe. 



Fed. 
4.2 
2.4 
1.6 
.3 
.8 
1.9 



Julv. 



Feet. 
1.8 
2.6 
.3 
- .2 
.3 
.3 



Aug. Sept. 



Feet. 

0.2 

1.4 

.0 

- .3 
.0 

- .2 



Feet. 

0.0 

.6 

- .2 

- .4 
.1 

- .4 



Oct. 



Feet. 

0.2 

.5 

- .3 

- .3 



Nov. 



Feet. 

0.4 

.4 

- .1 

- .3 
.4 



Dec. 



Feet. 
(«) 



-0.4 
.2 



Highest stage, 14.6 feet. Mar. 15, 1910. Lowest stage, -0.5 foot, Sept. 3, 4, and 5, 1911, and Sept. 15 to 
25, 1913. 



a River frozen entire month. 



'' Kiver frozen 1st to 23d. 



c River frozen 23 days. 



VERMILION RIVER. 

Conditions in the Vermilion River are similar in a smaller way to 
those of the lower James River. This stream is parallel to the James 
River and only 20 to 30 miles eastward. 

The Vermilion River rises at Lake Herman, Lake County, S. Dak., 
and after flowing about 110 miles in a southerly direction enters the 
^Missouri River just below Vermilion, S. Dak. The uppermost point 
of the river examined was at Parker, where it is composed of lagoon- 
like portions 2 or 3 feet deep and 10 to 40 feet wide, connected by 
narrow riffles, with very small flow of water. Some large white heel- 
splitter shells were observed, but mussels were not abundant. 

The river was next examined at Davis, where it flows through a 
trough in the seemingly level prairie from 50 to GO feet wide. At 
an ordinary stage of water the stream is 20 to 30 feet wide and 1 to 
2 feet deep, having a gravel and sand bottom. Only a few mussels 
were found. 



14 MUSSELS IX TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 

At Centerville there is a dam, forming a mill pond 100 to 150 feet 
wide and about 2 miles long. At the head of this pond there is a 
mussel bed of fair size, the whole bed containing about two carloads 
of commercial shells. At the time of the investigation some men 
were gathering the mussels in search of pearls. During the first part 
of the season $500 worth of pearls were found. The pearlers had 
been discarding the shells, but were considering placmg them on the 
market. 

The next station (Vermilion) is about 7 miles above the mouth of the 
river. As the river is navigable for a short distance here, a boat was 
hired and a trip 7 miles upstream was made to the mouth of a 
long drainage ditch. Few mussels were found, and these, though large 
old shells, were mostly thin-shelled species and were of no value. 
The drainage ditch is 20 miles long, 90 feet wide at the upper end 
and 110 feet wide at the lower end. It was begun during the wmter 
of 1911 and opened up the last week in May, 1913. It was con- 
structed for the purpose of straightening the course of the river and 
furnishmg better drainage than the old river bed, which was so built 
up as to be higher than the surrounding country. The ditch has 
therefore w^holly supplanted the old bed, leaving it high and dry. 
Many dead mussels are found in what had been the deeper portions 
of the old river. The mussel fauna of the 20 miles and more of old 
river bed, which was thus exposed to view in its entirety, would 
amount in all to about three carloads of large shells, averagmg 
considerably larger than those of any stream or mussel bed which we 
have yet encountered. About one carload of these shells, the best 
and most available ones, have been placed on the market. 

In all, 1 1 species of mussels were found in the river, 7 of these behig 
of good commercial value. The commercial species are Lampsilis 
ventricosa (pocketbook), L. luteola (fat mucket), Quadrula undulata 
(three-ridge), Q. coccinea (flat niggerhead), Q. lachrymosa (maple- 
leaf), Q. pustulosa (pimple-back), and Sym/pJiynota com/planata (white 
heel-splitter). Other species found were Lampsilis alata (pink heel- 
splitter), L. gracilis (paper-shell), L. recta (black sand-shell or long 
John), and AnodoTita corpidenta (slop-bucket). 

EXAMINATION OF OTHER STREAMS. 

Big Sioux River, which is about 230 miles long, rises in the north- 
west part of Grant County, S. Dak., and, after flowing in a southerly 
direction through a narrow valley in the rolling prairie, enters the 
Missouri Eiver just above Sioux City, Iowa. In the upper part of 
the river the bottom is gravel and sand, while at Dell Rapids and 
Sioux Falls it is quartzite, and rapids and small waterfalls prevail. 
The bed of the river in its lower part, from Canton to the mouth, is 
composed of fine shiftmg sand and silt. 



MUSSELS IN TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 15 

The river was examined froniFlandreau, S. Dak., to Hawarden, Iowa. 
Onl}^ a few mussels were fomid, and of these only the following 7 spe- 
cies were of commercial value: Lampsilis recta (black sand-shell), 
L. ventricosa (pocketbook), L. luteola (fat mucket), Quadrula undu- 
lata (three-ridge), Q. coccinea (flat niggerhead), Q. 'pustulosa (pimple- 
back), and Symphynota complanata (white heel-splitter). The non- 
commercial species found were: L. gracilis (paper-shell), L. alata 
(pancake or pink heel-sphtter), Anodonta corpulenta (slop-bucket), 
Alasmondonta truncata (elk-toe) . 

Lake Kampeska, 3^ miles wide and b\ miles long, lying 4 miles 
northwest of Watertown, S. Dak., is practically an isolated lake, which 
receives its main su23ply from the Big Sioux River at flood stages 
through what is usually termed the ''outlet" at the eastern end of 
the lake. The gently sloping banks are chiefly fine gravel and sand, 
and the average depth is about 10 feet. The mussels were very small 
and dwarfed, and were too thin for commercial use. The following 
species were observed: Anodonta gtxmdis footiana (floater), with 
sheUs so thin that ordinary prmt can easily be read through them; 
Lampsilis ventricosa (pocketbook); L. luteola (fat mucket) (1 speci- 
men gravid July 23, 1913); Stropliitus edentulus (squaw-foot); Sym^ 
phynota complanata variety Jiotharinse (white heel-splitter). 

Bad River was examined at PhiUp, S. Dak., and was found to be 
almost dry, with the exception of a few water boles, and no mussels 
wore found. 

Cheyenne River at Wasta, S. Dak., is very swift and muddy. The 
bottom is covered with large rocks, along with the mud and sand. 
No mussels were found. 

Red River of the North, wdiere examined at Fargo, N. Dak., is about 
50 to 75 feet wide, the bottom being cliiefl}' very soft with a con- 
siderable j)roportion of decaying vegetation. Above the dam at this 
place the river is 6 to 10 feet deep. Mussels were quite plentiful in 
the mill pond. Q. undulata (three-ridge), Q. laclirymosa (maple- 
leaf), and Q. pustulosa (i)imple-back) were the onh' commercial shells 
found. Other species collected were: L. ventricosa (pocketbook); 
L. recta (black sand-shell); and L. alata (pancake). 

Sheyenne River, a tributary of the Red River of the North, was 
examined at Lisbon, N. Dak. At this place it is a small stream 30 to 
50 feet wide and about 1 or 2 feet deep. In the mill pond above the 
town we found quite a few mussels, but they were too thin for com- 
mercial use. The following species were noted: Q. undulata (three- 
ridge); Q. coccinea (flat niggerhead); L. luteola (fat mucket); and 
A. grandis (floater). 

SUMMARY. 

In contrast to the tributaries of the upper Mississi]3]>i, those of the 
upper ^lissouri, like the main stream itself, are generally deficient in 



16 MUSSELS IN TRIBUTARIES OF UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 

mussel resources. The James and Vermilion Rivers are exceptions, 
the James River particularly having supported during the past year 
(1913) a shell fishery of some importance. Pearl fishing has been 
pursued in both streams for some years. The shell fishery on the 
James River is principally between Riverside and Lesterville. Modi- 
fications of the usual methods of fisliing are employed to advantage. 
(See p. 9, 10.) 

The principal shell is the Q. undulata (three-ridge). Several other 
economic species are found in less abundance. The variety of shells 
is Hmited, 14 species in all being collected. 

Pearl fishing has been pursued on the Vermihon River and some 
shipments of shells have been made recently, but the stream is too 
small to be important. 

It is probable that the self -perpetuation of the mussel beds in the 
James River depends upon the occurrence of unusual flood stages 
that allow opportunity for the entrance of fishes from the Missouri 
River. 



LI. S. B. F.— Doc. 812. 



Plate I. 






FIG. 3. 



VIEWS OF THE SHELL OF A MUSSEL COLLECTED IN THE JAMES RIVER 

AT HURON, S. DAK. 

The specimen coiild be referred to no previously described species or genus. 



APPENDIX. 



DESCRIPTION OF SHELL FOUND IN THE JAMES RIVER AT HURON, 
S. DAK., JULY 27, 1913. 

(Fig. 1, 2, and 3, pi. I.; 

Form of shell. — Sub triangular, the anterior margin forming the rounded apex of the 
elongated triangle, the posterior margin forming the base; dorsal margin nearly straight; 
ventral margin about equal in length to dorsal but slightly curved. Much inflated; 
the umboneshigh, arched, and nearly meeting; umbones situated well forward, one- 
third of distance from anterior margin. Greatest inflation in region of umbonal slope. 

Scidpture. — A pronounced ridge extends along posterior border of umbones to 
postero- ventral angle of shell; the anterior border of the ridge is somewhat roughened; 
a slight but distinct furrow limits the posterior border of the ridge. Just beneath each 
of the four upper concentric color rings are pronounced ridges in the anterior portion 
of the shell. Rest-markings consist of three or four short concentric ridges, very dis- 
tinct but thin and close together. 

Color. — Generally brownish straw-color; greenish in highest part of umbones, yel- 
lowish iinteriorly and ventrally, dark brownish in posterior portion. The specimen 
in hand shows six distinct dark concentric rings — the so-called "rest" or "growth" 
rings. 

Internal aspect. — Shell cavity very deep; umbonal cavity deep; the shell relatively 
thin; nacre lustrous white anteriorly, iridescent bluish or violet in thin posterior third. 
Cardinal teeth double in both valves, but compressed and relatively weak, especially 
so in right valve ; anterior much stronger than posterior in left valve; anterior somewhat 
stronger than posterior in right valve. Lateral teeth long, compressed, blade-like, 
elevated, slightly curved, double in left, single in right valve; lateral teeth scarcely 
continuous with cardinal teeth; hinge plate above lateral teeth practically wanting. 
Anterior retractor impression separate from anterior adductor, both roughened ; pos- 
terior adductor impression smooth; pallial line not conspicuous, broad and faintly 
striate in anterior half; dorsal muscle scars scarcely visible. 

Characteristic features of the shell are its triangular or pyramidal 
form and its remarkable inflation, which are strongly suggestive of 
the inflated types of L. luteola; its compressed sharp teeth, which are 
of the Lamp.siJis type to an extreme ; the color of epidermis and char- 
acter and color of nacre, which find correspondence only in species of 
Quadrula, especially in Quadrula undulata. The pyramidal shape of 
the shell is also suggestive of Q. undulata. It is not possible at the 
present time to place the specimen in any described genus. 

17 

O 



